Taxi App Development: Building a Successful App Like Careem and Associated Cost

App development company in Dubai

October 4, 2024

Reading time about 6 minutes

Transportation applications like Careem and Uber have completely changed the transportation landscape in Dubai by offering cheap and reliable taxi services. Careem is a leading cab booking app, operating in 70 cities across 10 countries. Uber acquired Careem for $3.1 billion in 2019.  

Talk to our Experts

Taxi app development is a rising trend in the Middle East and Asia. The massive market opportunities and success of apps like Careem have encouraged many new players to enter the market. If you are doing a vehicle-based business and want to develop an app, this guide will guide you through the basic features, the entire process, and the cost to establish an app like Careem.  

What is Careem?

In 2012, Careem was founded in Dubai as a ride-hailing service for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Initially it was only through a website and then transitioned to being an app-based service targeting general users, and now from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Lahore, and more, across massive cities, Careem has become a bigger rival to Uber.  

The app enables rides to be booked either on-demand or in advance while offering a seamless experience in transportation. This company has raised quite a significant amount of financing in its operations over the years, most notably when it received $60 million in financing from investors like Al Tayyar and STC Ventures.  

Key Features of a Taxi App Like Careem

A taxi app like Careem must have some essentials to make it smooth working for passengers as well as the drivers. Below are the must-haves that both the passenger interface and the driver interface should have.  

Passenger Features  

  • User Profile: It allows passengers to create an account either through email, social media, or mobile numbers, which contains their personal data and ride history along with payment details.  
  • Real-Time Booking: With just a few taps, users can book a ride on demand or book it for later.  
  • Variety of payment schemes: Cash and card payments can be made, so people can use them to make a payment.  
  • Ride History & Feedback: The users can look at the trip history and give feedback so that services can be improved accordingly.  
  • Notifications & Alerts: The apps keep sending information about the driver’s location, arrival time, and on-ride completion through SMS or through push notifications.  
  • In-App Support: A comprehensive support system to enable the passengers to raise concerns or complaints from the app itself.  

Driver Features  

  • Profile: The profile link allows the driver to view its details, where he can update his personal data, vehicle information, their availability status, and ride history.  
  • Navigation & Route Optimization: Navigate to the best routes using the GPS with avoidance of most traffic delays.  
  • In-App Notifications: He is notified for ride requests, updates, and customer details.  
  • Earnings Dashboard: This might be a detailed breakdown of earnings, tips, and trip payments, which may help the driver know how much he earns at any given time.  
  • Ratings & Reviews: Passenger can rate the drivers that generally keep the service at a sound standard.  

Admin Panel Features 

A detailed admin panel is needed to run the application totally in order to keep track of operations, user management, and handling payments.  

  • Dashboard with Analytics  
  • Driver and User Management  
  • Payment Processing and Revenue Tracking  
  • Customer Support Tools  
  • Ride Management and Pricing Controls  

Development Process: How Does a Taxi App Like Careem Work?

Account Setup and Onboarding  

Customers can sign up through their Facebook or email accounts. They can then begin making ride bookings. Drivers, however, go through a vetting process to ensure safety and quality service.  

Ride Booking  

Once the passenger is logged in, they are given an option for the type of ride to be undertaken. They then enter their pickup and drop-off locations. Using GPS, the app automatically identifies the user’s current location and transmits nearby drivers to the user interface.  

Live Tracking  

Get ride confirmation and receive live ride details on the app instantly after you are assigned to a ride   

Payment  

Passengers can also make multiple selections for the chosen payment options, like credit card, debit card, or cash. The card payment is processed seamlessly through the application with an automated e-receipt transmitted to them after completion of the ride.  

Feedback & Rating  

After a ride, passengers can rate the driver and comment. Similarly, drivers can rate a passenger to ensure high quality for both involved parties. firmer, a passenger and a driver can track one another’s real-time location. This way, transparency and convenience are made easier.  

What’s the Estimated Cost to Develop an App Like Careem?

The cost to develop an app like Careem depends on various factors such as complexity, features, platform (iOS, Android, or both), and the location of the development team. Here’s a rough estimate of the costs involved:  

  1. Basic Version (single platform, essential features):  
  1. Cost: AED 40,000 to AED 60,000  
  1. Timeline: 3-5 months  
  1. Mid-Range Version (multi-platform, additional features like GPS, notifications):  
  1. Cost: AED 60,000 to AED 80,000  
  1. Timeline: 5-7 months  
  1. Advanced Version (fully custom, multi-platform, additional services like ridesharing, loyalty programs):  
  1. Cost: AED 80,000 to AED 100,000+  
  1. Timeline: 7-10 months  

These are estimated costs and can vary based on detailed project requirements, customizations, and third-party integrations like payment gateways and GPS services.  

Why Choose Clavax Technologies for Your Taxi App Development?

At Clavax Technologies, our aim is to deliver simple yet robust and scalable mobile applications suitable for your business needs. We offer the following:  

  1. 24/7 Support: Our team operates 24/7 to ensure that your app runs smoothly.  
  1. Customizable Solutions: The company will design an app that befits your business objectives and brand identity.  
  1. Timely Delivery: Ensuring timely delivery so that your app hits the market on time.  
  1. Cost-Effective Services: We deliver high-class apps within your budget without compromising the feature or performance.  

With the right idea, features, and development team, this could open doors to a whole new business. A taxi app like Careem would ensure on-demand booking with GPS tracking, payment integration, and customer feedback. As a leading Android app development company, we aim to deliver high-performance platforms at reasonable prices.  

Talk to our Experts